How’re we doing? Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Shelbourne’s Uefa Conference League group-stage clash with AZ Alkmaar at Afas Stadium, Alkmaar.
Joey O’Brien’s Shels are up against it this evening away to the third-placed team in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, for whom recent Ireland hero Troy Parrott will lead the line this evening (team news on the way next).
AZ are just two points ahead of Shels in the Conference League standings. However, with Crystal Palace to come to Tallaght before a final-round trip to Slovenia to face Celje, the visitors need to take something back to Dublin this evening.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you live updates of the game from 5:45pm (it’s being broadcast on Premier Sports 1 if you have it).
My colleague David Sneyd is also on the ground in Alkmaar where he’ll have a full match report and reaction after full-time.
Kick-off just under an hour away. Troy Parrott leads the line for AZ Alkmaar. Mipo Odubeko does the same for Shelbourne.
Away fans in the left corner here. Will they see their side score for the first time in this Uefa Conference League campaign?
Troy Parrott continued his goalscoring form at the weekend with a neat turn and finish but AZ fell to a 3-1 away defeat to Heerenveen.
They’ve lost their last three games in all competitions — falling 5-1 at home to Dutch champions PSV before the international window and 3-1 away to Crystal Palace in the Conference League before that — but they’re naturally heavy favourites this evening.
AZ, like Shels, are seeking their first victory in this season’s Conference League.
Joey O’Brien has named Mipo Odubeko, Dan Kelly and Harry Wood in his front three as Shels seek to pull off an upset that would keep alive their slim chances of European progression.
This man — who, eh, you might remember scored five goals in his two most recent games for Ireland — has also scored 14 goals in 15 club appearances so far this season.
Seven of Troy Parrott’s goals for AZ this term came during the Dutch side’s qualification campaign for the Conference League, although he hasn’t yet found the net in the competition proper (he’s made just two appearances, mind you).
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
27 Nov 2025
5:32PM
"When I think back to it, it just puts a smile on my face. It's a special feeling to be able to give so much people joy." 🗣️@troyparrott9 discusses a memorable last international break for @IrelandFootball, coming up against Shelbourne tonight, and more 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/AjgoIKhPvS
Keep an eye on AZ left winger Wassim Bouziane, who’s just 18 and gets a start this evening. It’s a bit of a surprise selection by Maarten Martens, but Milan Mbeng of Shels has had plenty of time in recent weeks to study film on all possible opponents down his flank!
1′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Shels get us underway in Alkmaar.
27 Nov 2025
5:52PM
4′- AZ 0-0 SHEL: AZ guilty of overplaying slightly at the back and Mipo Odubeko executes an excellently timed press to force a Shelbourne corner.
AZ have conceded more headed goals than any other club in the Eredivisie this season but they eventually clear after a second Shels corner. No real danger, but encouraging by Odubeko up top.
27 Nov 2025
5:56PM
9′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Shels looking to force AZ wide out of possession. They’re narrow and compact.
AZ accepted the invitation a couple of minutes ago and had, if not quite a half-chance, a quarter-chance — a pullback, basically, which was cleared — after a nice incursion down the right by Weslley Patati.
The aforementioned teenager Bouziane is looking sharp on the left, too.
27 Nov 2025
5:59PM
11′- AZ 0-0 SHEL: Bouziane pounces on a loose ball on halfway and dances his way to within shooting range. He slices a right-footed effort well wide of Wessel Speel’s goal, however.
27 Nov 2025
6:01PM
14′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Shelbourne defending resolutely so far. And they’re pressing relatively high, too — it’s not quite a backs-to-the-wall job, or at least not yet.
Parrott’s barely had a touch so far, for what it’s worth.
27 Nov 2025
6:05PM
15′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: After Jack Henry-Francis is yellow-carded for a rash challenge on David Kwakman, Paddy Barrett is forced to make a vital intervention as AZ get in behind for the first time!
Sven Mijnans’ ball over the top is diverted first-time, and quite wonderfully, across the six-yard box by Patati (I think), but Barrett slides in and gets a toe to the ball to prevent an almost certain goal.
Shels clear the ensuing corner with ease.
27 Nov 2025
6:14PM
25′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Yellow card, now, for Harry Wood, who joins Henry-Francis in the book for the visitors.
Poor challenge on Peer Koopmeiners, who’s receiving attention but will be alright.
If Koopmeiners’ name sounds familiar, it may be because his brother, Teun, now plays for Juventus after a standout stint with Atalanta in recent seasons.
27 Nov 2025
6:19PM
31′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Troy Parrott forces a fine save from Speel but his left-footed effort was in vain — he was marginally offside.
That would have been AZ’s first real chance. Shels will be very content with the pattern of the game so far. They’ve offered precious little on the ball but they’re not under any particular pressure.
AZ trying, now, to up the ante.
27 Nov 2025
6:21PM
32′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Kerr McInroy wins back the ball in midfield and combines with Harry Wood to release Mipo Odubeko in AZ’s half.
The striker marauds forward, fouls a defender as he’s swarmed from behind, and flashes an effort just wide of the AZ goal after the referee’s whistle.
A nice snapshot of what Shels might be capable of here.
27 Nov 2025
6:25PM
38′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Beautiful first-time pass by Parrott puts Kwakman in on goal but Mbeng makes the last-ditch tackle for Shels! Great defending.
A moment later, AZ have a penalty shout as the same Shels defender is alleged to clip the heels of Mees de Wit. VAR takes a look but dismisses the hosts’ claims.
Mbeng, though, fouls Bouziane moments later on the Dutch side’s left flank. A training-ground set-piece is blocked out for a corner by Paddy Barrett.
AZ definitely turning up the temperature here.
27 Nov 2025
6:27PM
39′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: In a role reversal of an earlier incident, Dave Kwakman is booked for barrelling into Jack Henry-Francis as Shels attempt to break.
Kwakman is only 21 himself, looks a tidy player. Or did until that cynical foul!
Still 0-0 in Alkmaar with no clear-cut chances for either side.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
27 Nov 2025
6:34PM
46′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Troy Parrott with a chance!
He takes a lovely first touch from a cleverly worked free-kick on the right-hand side but skews his right-footed effort wide at the far post. It might have taken a slight nick off a Shels heel, but it was a misconnection by Parrott and wasn’t going in either way. Goal kick awarded.
That’s the closest either side has come to opening the scoring so far at Afas Stadium!
27 Nov 2025
6:36PM
Added time: 4 Minutes
47′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Mbeng wins a corner from nothing as we approach half time.
AZ almost make a bags of the deep corner and Odubeko swings at a loose ball, gets a good connection, but home ‘keeper Owusu-Oduro smothers his effort!
Half-time — AZ 0-0 SHEL: A job well done so far by Joey O’Brien’s side. AZ have had the lion’s share of possession but created little other than a chance for Troy Parrott at the end of the half.
Shels have been largely comfortable. AZ have been a bit half-arsed and the crowd sound frustrated as we head into the break.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Catch you in 15 minutes!
27 Nov 2025
6:52PM
Second half
46′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: AZ get us back underway.
Midfielder David Kwakman, who was on a yellow, has been replaced at half-time by Kees Smit.
27 Nov 2025
6:54PM
48′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: AZ give Shels the first scare of the second half as Patata’s whipped, in-swinging cross from the left evades everyone — including his own teammates by a whisker — and curls wide.
27 Nov 2025
7:06PM
58′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Wessel Speel with three saves in quick succession! Although you’d expect him to have made all of them.
The first chance of the second half falls to Troy Parrott again, but his left-footed effort after a tidy team move is stifled at close range by the Shels ‘keeper, who stood up strong.
From the resulting corner, Speel parries after a sweep of Sven Mijnan’s left foot from around 25 yards.
He then gobbles up an effort from similar range by replacement Kees Smit.
27 Nov 2025
7:07PM
61′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: After a Shels break amounts to nothing, AZ counter in the opposite direction and Parrott lays one into the feet of Patati, whose left-footed effort curls a couple of yards wide of Speel’s right-hand post.
AZ not quite knocking on the door with all of these long-range efforts, but they’re approaching the driveway!
27 Nov 2025
7:09PM
62′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: O’Brien halts AZ’s momentum with a double swap: John Martin on for Harry Wood and Evan Caffrey replaces JJ Lunney.
27 Nov 2025
7:13PM
66′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Paddy Barrett, who has been superb, is booked for a fractionally late challenge on Koopmeiners.
AZ back on the attack but Shels appear to have weathered the most recent AZ storm.
27 Nov 2025
7:15PM
67′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: CHANCE FOR SHELBOURNE!
Odubeku does exceptionally well down the left and cuts infield, where he delivers a perfect, low, diagonal pass to the onrushing John Martin inside the AZ area.
Martin, though, botches his first touch and the ball gets stuck under his feet! He’s eventually dispossessed before he can get a proper shot away. That’s a sickener!
70′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: Fullback Mees de Wit nods home after a well-worked, well-rehearsed set-piece move.
The ball is rolled across to Koopmeiners after Kerr McInroy’s handball about 35 yards from goal. He dinks it perfectly onto the head of the onrushing De Wit, who beats Speel with ease.
A gutter after John Martin’s chance moments earlier.
27 Nov 2025
7:20PM
73′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: AZ have Shels on the run now and have had a couple of sighters since the goal.
Shels’ initial response was positive with McInroy forcing a corner with a deflected effort, but the Dutch side have their tails up now.
27 Nov 2025
7:24PM
76′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: John Martin in the book now for a wild enough swipe on Kees Smit.
AZ still applying the pressure.
Both sides with further changes in the last couple of minutes. Sean Gannon on for his 64th European appearance, Ellis Chapman also on for the visitors.
27 Nov 2025
7:27PM
79′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL:Troy Parrott has had some beautiful touches to tee up teammates but has otherwise been given a tough night of it by Mark Coyle.
Shels need something here but it feels like an uphill battle to get even one, just with the current pattern of proceedings. AZ in total control since the opener.
27 Nov 2025
7:30PM
84′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: Seán Boyd on for Mipo Odubeko, who has pulled up with an issue with his right leg.
27 Nov 2025
7:31PM
85′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: GREAT SAVE BY WESSEL SPEEL FROM PARROTT!
The Ireland striker peels around to the back post and meets a corner first time but his excellently controlled, right-footed effort is deflected high and wide by the Shels goalkeeper.
87′ – AZ 2-0 SHEL: A wonderful strike by substitute Isak Jensen, who picks it up 25 yards from goal, left of centre, and just rifles one with his right foot into the left-hand corner as he faces it.
The ball swerves away from the outstretched Speel, who dives to his right but can’t really get near it.
AZ pick up their first win of this Conference League campaign, while Shels are still chasing their first goal.
This was a fine performance by the League of Ireland side, though, who were well organised and dogged, only to be eventually picked apart by a training-ground free-kick routine finished by Mees de Wit and a wonderful long-range strike by Isak Jensen.
Shels had a huge chance through John Martin moments before AZ opened the scoring which will feel like a huge sliding-doors moment.
Some lovely pieces of link-up by Troy Parrott in AZ’s victory but the excellent Wessel Speel kept him at bay.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Keep an eye on The 42 where David Sneyd will have a full match report and reaction from Alkmaar.
Thanks for joining us for this liveblog. Catch you soon!
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As it happened: AZ Alkmaar 2-0 Shelbourne, Uefa Conference League
How’re we doing? Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Shelbourne’s Uefa Conference League group-stage clash with AZ Alkmaar at Afas Stadium, Alkmaar.
Joey O’Brien’s Shels are up against it this evening away to the third-placed team in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, for whom recent Ireland hero Troy Parrott will lead the line this evening (team news on the way next).
AZ are just two points ahead of Shels in the Conference League standings. However, with Crystal Palace to come to Tallaght before a final-round trip to Slovenia to face Celje, the visitors need to take something back to Dublin this evening.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you live updates of the game from 5:45pm (it’s being broadcast on Premier Sports 1 if you have it).
My colleague David Sneyd is also on the ground in Alkmaar where he’ll have a full match report and reaction after full-time.
AZ Alkmaar: Owusu-Oduro, Goes, Penetra, de Wit, Dijkstra, Mijnans, Koopmeiners, Kwakman, Patati, Bouziane, Parrott.
Shelbourne: Speel, Barrett, Coyle, Mbeng, Ledwidge, Lunney, Mcinroy, Henry-Francis, Kelly, Wood, Odubeko.
Troy Parrott continued his goalscoring form at the weekend with a neat turn and finish but AZ fell to a 3-1 away defeat to Heerenveen.
They’ve lost their last three games in all competitions — falling 5-1 at home to Dutch champions PSV before the international window and 3-1 away to Crystal Palace in the Conference League before that — but they’re naturally heavy favourites this evening.
AZ, like Shels, are seeking their first victory in this season’s Conference League.
Joey O’Brien has named Mipo Odubeko, Dan Kelly and Harry Wood in his front three as Shels seek to pull off an upset that would keep alive their slim chances of European progression.
This man — who, eh, you might remember scored five goals in his two most recent games for Ireland — has also scored 14 goals in 15 club appearances so far this season.
Seven of Troy Parrott’s goals for AZ this term came during the Dutch side’s qualification campaign for the Conference League, although he hasn’t yet found the net in the competition proper (he’s made just two appearances, mind you).
Keep an eye on AZ left winger Wassim Bouziane, who’s just 18 and gets a start this evening. It’s a bit of a surprise selection by Maarten Martens, but Milan Mbeng of Shels has had plenty of time in recent weeks to study film on all possible opponents down his flank!
1′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Shels get us underway in Alkmaar.
4′- AZ 0-0 SHEL: AZ guilty of overplaying slightly at the back and Mipo Odubeko executes an excellently timed press to force a Shelbourne corner.
AZ have conceded more headed goals than any other club in the Eredivisie this season but they eventually clear after a second Shels corner. No real danger, but encouraging by Odubeko up top.
9′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Shels looking to force AZ wide out of possession. They’re narrow and compact.
AZ accepted the invitation a couple of minutes ago and had, if not quite a half-chance, a quarter-chance — a pullback, basically, which was cleared — after a nice incursion down the right by Weslley Patati.
The aforementioned teenager Bouziane is looking sharp on the left, too.
11′- AZ 0-0 SHEL: Bouziane pounces on a loose ball on halfway and dances his way to within shooting range. He slices a right-footed effort well wide of Wessel Speel’s goal, however.
14′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Shelbourne defending resolutely so far. And they’re pressing relatively high, too — it’s not quite a backs-to-the-wall job, or at least not yet.
Parrott’s barely had a touch so far, for what it’s worth.
15′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: After Jack Henry-Francis is yellow-carded for a rash challenge on David Kwakman, Paddy Barrett is forced to make a vital intervention as AZ get in behind for the first time!
Sven Mijnans’ ball over the top is diverted first-time, and quite wonderfully, across the six-yard box by Patati (I think), but Barrett slides in and gets a toe to the ball to prevent an almost certain goal.
Shels clear the ensuing corner with ease.
25′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Yellow card, now, for Harry Wood, who joins Henry-Francis in the book for the visitors.
Poor challenge on Peer Koopmeiners, who’s receiving attention but will be alright.
If Koopmeiners’ name sounds familiar, it may be because his brother, Teun, now plays for Juventus after a standout stint with Atalanta in recent seasons.
31′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Troy Parrott forces a fine save from Speel but his left-footed effort was in vain — he was marginally offside.
That would have been AZ’s first real chance. Shels will be very content with the pattern of the game so far. They’ve offered precious little on the ball but they’re not under any particular pressure.
AZ trying, now, to up the ante.
32′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Kerr McInroy wins back the ball in midfield and combines with Harry Wood to release Mipo Odubeko in AZ’s half.
The striker marauds forward, fouls a defender as he’s swarmed from behind, and flashes an effort just wide of the AZ goal after the referee’s whistle.
A nice snapshot of what Shels might be capable of here.
38′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Beautiful first-time pass by Parrott puts Kwakman in on goal but Mbeng makes the last-ditch tackle for Shels! Great defending.
A moment later, AZ have a penalty shout as the same Shels defender is alleged to clip the heels of Mees de Wit. VAR takes a look but dismisses the hosts’ claims.
Mbeng, though, fouls Bouziane moments later on the Dutch side’s left flank. A training-ground set-piece is blocked out for a corner by Paddy Barrett.
AZ definitely turning up the temperature here.
39′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: In a role reversal of an earlier incident, Dave Kwakman is booked for barrelling into Jack Henry-Francis as Shels attempt to break.
Kwakman is only 21 himself, looks a tidy player. Or did until that cynical foul!
Still 0-0 in Alkmaar with no clear-cut chances for either side.
46′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Troy Parrott with a chance!
He takes a lovely first touch from a cleverly worked free-kick on the right-hand side but skews his right-footed effort wide at the far post. It might have taken a slight nick off a Shels heel, but it was a misconnection by Parrott and wasn’t going in either way. Goal kick awarded.
That’s the closest either side has come to opening the scoring so far at Afas Stadium!
47′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Mbeng wins a corner from nothing as we approach half time.
AZ almost make a bags of the deep corner and Odubeko swings at a loose ball, gets a good connection, but home ‘keeper Owusu-Oduro smothers his effort!
Half-time — AZ 0-0 SHEL: A job well done so far by Joey O’Brien’s side. AZ have had the lion’s share of possession but created little other than a chance for Troy Parrott at the end of the half.
Shels have been largely comfortable. AZ have been a bit half-arsed and the crowd sound frustrated as we head into the break.
Catch you in 15 minutes!
46′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: AZ get us back underway.
Midfielder David Kwakman, who was on a yellow, has been replaced at half-time by Kees Smit.
48′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: AZ give Shels the first scare of the second half as Patata’s whipped, in-swinging cross from the left evades everyone — including his own teammates by a whisker — and curls wide.
58′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Wessel Speel with three saves in quick succession! Although you’d expect him to have made all of them.
The first chance of the second half falls to Troy Parrott again, but his left-footed effort after a tidy team move is stifled at close range by the Shels ‘keeper, who stood up strong.
From the resulting corner, Speel parries after a sweep of Sven Mijnan’s left foot from around 25 yards.
He then gobbles up an effort from similar range by replacement Kees Smit.
61′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: After a Shels break amounts to nothing, AZ counter in the opposite direction and Parrott lays one into the feet of Patati, whose left-footed effort curls a couple of yards wide of Speel’s right-hand post.
AZ not quite knocking on the door with all of these long-range efforts, but they’re approaching the driveway!
62′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: O’Brien halts AZ’s momentum with a double swap: John Martin on for Harry Wood and Evan Caffrey replaces JJ Lunney.
66′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: Paddy Barrett, who has been superb, is booked for a fractionally late challenge on Koopmeiners.
AZ back on the attack but Shels appear to have weathered the most recent AZ storm.
67′ – AZ 0-0 SHEL: CHANCE FOR SHELBOURNE!
Odubeku does exceptionally well down the left and cuts infield, where he delivers a perfect, low, diagonal pass to the onrushing John Martin inside the AZ area.
Martin, though, botches his first touch and the ball gets stuck under his feet! He’s eventually dispossessed before he can get a proper shot away. That’s a sickener!
70′ – GOAL FOR AZ! DE WIT!
70′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: Fullback Mees de Wit nods home after a well-worked, well-rehearsed set-piece move.
The ball is rolled across to Koopmeiners after Kerr McInroy’s handball about 35 yards from goal. He dinks it perfectly onto the head of the onrushing De Wit, who beats Speel with ease.
A gutter after John Martin’s chance moments earlier.
73′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: AZ have Shels on the run now and have had a couple of sighters since the goal.
Shels’ initial response was positive with McInroy forcing a corner with a deflected effort, but the Dutch side have their tails up now.
76′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: John Martin in the book now for a wild enough swipe on Kees Smit.
AZ still applying the pressure.
Both sides with further changes in the last couple of minutes. Sean Gannon on for his 64th European appearance, Ellis Chapman also on for the visitors.
79′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL:Troy Parrott has had some beautiful touches to tee up teammates but has otherwise been given a tough night of it by Mark Coyle.
Shels need something here but it feels like an uphill battle to get even one, just with the current pattern of proceedings. AZ in total control since the opener.
84′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: Seán Boyd on for Mipo Odubeko, who has pulled up with an issue with his right leg.
85′ – AZ 1-0 SHEL: GREAT SAVE BY WESSEL SPEEL FROM PARROTT!
The Ireland striker peels around to the back post and meets a corner first time but his excellently controlled, right-footed effort is deflected high and wide by the Shels goalkeeper.
87′ – GOAL FOR AZ! JENSEN! 2-0!
87′ – AZ 2-0 SHEL: A wonderful strike by substitute Isak Jensen, who picks it up 25 yards from goal, left of centre, and just rifles one with his right foot into the left-hand corner as he faces it.
The ball swerves away from the outstretched Speel, who dives to his right but can’t really get near it.
That’s game, unfortunately for Shels.
AZ pick up their first win of this Conference League campaign, while Shels are still chasing their first goal.
This was a fine performance by the League of Ireland side, though, who were well organised and dogged, only to be eventually picked apart by a training-ground free-kick routine finished by Mees de Wit and a wonderful long-range strike by Isak Jensen.
Shels had a huge chance through John Martin moments before AZ opened the scoring which will feel like a huge sliding-doors moment.
Some lovely pieces of link-up by Troy Parrott in AZ’s victory but the excellent Wessel Speel kept him at bay.
Keep an eye on The 42 where David Sneyd will have a full match report and reaction from Alkmaar.
Thanks for joining us for this liveblog. Catch you soon!
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